A-level results: Ucas university clearing guide

Grades not what you needed? Warwick Mansell explains how to make the clearing
system work for you

The UCAS website publishes the official vacancy lists

8:30AM BST 20 Aug 2009

What is clearing?

Clearing is the process by which thousands of school-leavers who have applied for higher education courses this year through Ucas (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) but who have missed out on their preferred choice of course, or declined all offers made to them, or simply applied too late, search for a university place among those still available after the A-level results have been issued. Officially, clearing lasts until September 21, but many places are filled earlier.

How do I apply for a place through clearing?

On the morning of A-level results day, Thursday, August 20 (or Wednesday, August 5 for Scottish vacancies), the official vacancy lists are published on the Ucas website (www.ucas.com) and in the national press.

The online lists are updated continually. Some of the vacancies may be filled quickly while others may not appear until later, so it is worth checking regularly.

Once you have made a list of vacancies that interest you, you need to telephone the universities concerned.

They prefer to talk directly to students, but it is also possible for parents to speak to them. It is always advisable to visit the university you’re considering to have a look around; most will be happy to oblige and many will be holding open days.

You can keep an eye on the progress of your applications online through Ucas’s Track system, which will also give you a “clearing number”.Universities will ask you for this when you call them to inquire about vacancies.

During what can be a stressful period, taking advice is highly recommended. Start by talking to the careers adviser at your school or college, or a teacher. Ucas has its own helpline (0871 468 0468), and there is also the Exam Results Helpline (0808 100 8000) – this is the Government’s advice line run by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Two useful websites that can help you compare and rank universities are www.push.co.uk and www.completeuniversityguide.co.uk

How many got into university this way last year and how many are likely to do so this year?

In 2008, 43,890 students secured university places through clearing, which represents more than 9.5 per cent of the 456,627 applicants accepted overall.

This year, however, the competition for places is likely to be more intense. Ucas is predicting that as few as 20,000 places might be available through clearing – half the total last year – as overall applications have risen by almost 10 per cent this summer. The Government originally said it would only fund an extra 3,000 places for full-time undergraduates, which would mean a significant shortfall in the number of vacancies likely to be available through clearing.But things have improved slightly since then, with a further 10,000 places now to be made available in maths, science and technology.

With the prospect of going into debt, and the economy in its current precarious state, is university really worth it?

School-leavers have to consider the likely financial benefits of a degree over the course of their career alongside the prospect of accumulating some debt over the coming years. They also need to weigh up how interested they are in the subject they are thinking of studying.

Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at the University of Buckingham, says: “If you want to pursue an academic subject to the highest level you can, you have to decide whether the university you have chosen can help you do that. If, on the other hand, you want to take what can be called a vocational degree, you have to work out whether it will really provide a good ladder into employment. If the answer is no, then you might be better off making alternative plans, such as taking an apprenticeship or going straight into some form of employment.”

Opinion is divided on whether it is better to shelter from the recession by studying for a degree. This year’s increase in applications suggests that many candidates believe so, but there is no guarantee that the economy will have fully recovered by the time they graduate in 2012.

Is it worth sitting it out for a year and applying for 2010?

Johnny Rich, editor of the university advice website, www.push.co.uk, believes it is. He says: “If going to university is not going to give you something you’re happy with, I’d suggest leaving it until next year.

Take a gap year. Do something worthwhile with your time: get a job, go travelling or retake your A-levels. And then you can apply again next year with your grades in the bag.”

However, Vera Telford, of the Exams Results Helpline, says teenagers should have a clear idea of what they want from a gap year and should not use it as a way of deferring hard choices.

Should I get on to any course and then try to swap once I’m in?

This is a risky tactic. Johnny Rich says that although some universities are “pretty easy-going” about this, others may well “frown on any kind of switching”. However, some, such as Keele, have introduced structures where you can study a broad range of related subjects in your first year before specialising in the second, so these, says Rich, may be more amenable to switching.

But Sue Barr, president of the Association for Careers Education and Guidance, says: “It is not a good idea to start on a course that you have not chosen to do.”

Is it worth getting my A-level papers re-marked?

You need to consult your school or college about this, as requests for re-marks must be made through them, rather than by the student.

But be aware that grades can go down as well as up as a result of a re-mark.

If your exam papers are being re-marked, it’s worth telling the university from which you have an offer of your situation.

Should I re-take my A-levels?

This can be a difficult route: most schools and colleges are unlikely to offer you tuition, so you may be on your own for revision, unless you can afford to pay for private tuition. However, it can be worthwhile.

Tom Reid, 19, who upgraded his maths grade from a B to an A, and his physics from a C to a B in January after narrowly missing out on his target grades last summer, is enthusiastic about re-takes. He says: “It can be tough coming home after work and doing several hours’ revision at night and on weekends. But you have to think that it will be worth it in the long run. It certainly worked for me.”

What about applying to the Open University?

This might be an option for anyone who wants an alternative to the traditional clearing process. More than 25,000 students under 25 currently study with the OU. However, this is seen as an option only for those who are highly motivated, as much of the study involved has to be done alone.

What can parents do to help?

The sensible advice for parents is to keep calm, be supportive and, if necessary, be prepared to help with visiting universities.

Caroline McHale, from Harrow, in North London, found a place for her son, Calum, at the University of Winchester after he missed out on the grades needed to study archaeology at Reading or Leicester. She says: “If you want to lock yourself in the bathroom and have a cry — as I did — that’s fine, but try to be calm for your child. Phone the advice line on the morning they receive the results, have the Ucas form and their results at the ready and do some quick research about the universities that still have vacancies. I’d advise looking at drop-out rates, as these are usually a good indicator of student happiness.”

McHale adds: “Calum is now the happiest I’ve ever seen him. He loves the course. He loves his tutors. He’s found his place.”